United States Prices | *Prices include processing fee.
Product Info
Tamiflu – Avian/Bird Flu (influenza) Medication
Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate) is a very effective antiviral flu medication which can be taken to both treat and to prevent the flu. Currently Tamiflu is one of the most widely prescribed of all the flu medications on the market. During the clinical trials Tamiflu showed a tremendous success rate. When given to adults, Tamiflu was shown to reduce the duration of the flu virus by 30% and similarly when administered children Tamiflu was shown to reduce the duration of the flu virus by 26%. Tamiflu works to either prevent the flu—when taken before contracting the virus—or to lessen the duration and the overall symptoms of the flu virus when taking to treat the flu. Tamiflu is safe for both children and adults ages 1 and older.
Common Flu Symptoms:
The flu can hit like a ton and bricks and usually leaves most people bed ridden for days, with symptoms lasting as long as two weeks in some cases. The flu can also be deadly in both children and adults who have compromised immune systems due to their age.
Common symptoms of the flu include:
- Headache
- Stuffy nose or runny nose
- Sore throat
- Aching muscles
- Dry mouth
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
What is the Avian Flu?
The Avian Flu is a strain of the influenza virus that is commonly found in birds. Typically it lies dormant in the intestines of birds but sometimes it can spread and cause birds to become very ill and to die. The first case of the Avian Flu virus mutating and communicating to a human being occurred in Hong Kong in 1997, where 6 out of 18 individuals who became infected died. The deadly strain of the Avian Flu that killed them is called HN51. World health officials alike agree that the potential for the HN51 strain to mutate again and spread from human to human is both a true and very real risk, and has the potential to become a worldwide outbreak and pandemic of unprecedented proportions. Currently the WHO (World Health Organization) endorses Tamiflu as the best method of treatment and prevention when dealing with the HN51 strain. However it should be noted that Tamiflu does not kill the HN51 strain, rather it helps to decrease the duration of the virus just as it works to treat the “human” strains of flu.
Who Should and should not Take Tamiflu?
While Tamiflu may be the right flu drug for most people, there are some people who should not take or may not be able to take Tamiflu including: women who are planning conception, expecting a child or currently are nursing, as well as those who are suffering from heart disease, kidney disease, lung disease, or those who are not healthy enough to be taking Tamiflu. Always ask your doctor if Tamiflu is the right flu drug for you.
How does Tamiflu Work?
The cells of the influenza virus house a protein called neuraminidase—which is critical in allowing the virus to break through the cell walls and multiply going on to infect other cells—Tamiflu targets this neuraminidase protein, not allowing the virus to break out of the cell, ultimately confining the flu to the infected cells. Tamiflu has shown significant ability to limit the replication of the flu virus and not allow it to continue its rapid spread and infection of other cells, ultimately limiting the duration and the associated symptoms. Tamiflu only can work effectively when taken properly. In order to be able to use Tamiflu to treat your flu, it must be taken within 48-hours of contracting the flu virus. In order to effectively prevent yourself from contracting the flu using Tamiflu, you must take this drug before you contract the flu virus.
Tamiflu Side Effects:
As is true when taking any sort of prescribed medication, there are some side effects that can occur. Always be sure to consult with your physician before taking any prescribed drug to make sure that it is the right drug for you.
Side Effects:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- In rare cases, children taking Tamiflu experienced delirium, children should be monitored when taking Tamiflu
- In rare cases, a skin reaction or allergic reaction occurred which may be potentially life-threatening—seek immediate medical attention if you experience this
Tamiflu Precautions:
You always want to make sure and consult with a physician before taking this or any other prescribed drug. Always make sure to tell your doctor about any and EVERY drug that you are taking, even if you bought it over-the-counter at a local drugstore. Always let your doctor know about any known drug allergies that you may have to avoid an allergic and potentially dangerous reaction from taking this drug. It is not recommended that you mix this flu drug with any other known flu drug as there have not yet been conclusive studies on the interactions and side effects—if any—of this drug interacting with other flu drugs.
